Fire Cause Analysis New York

By Tammie Caldwell


Once a fire has been put out and it has been confirmed that everybody inside the structure has been safely evacuated, the next task is to find out what caused it. Fire cause analysis New York helps identify new ways of preventing fires, finding out who was ultimately responsible and, where possible, ruling out arson. When arson cannot be ruled out, the culprit must be identified and brought to justice.

This is a complicated procedure and requires input from a huge variety of different professionals: investigators, scientists, and engineers, all with backgrounds in forensics. Forensic scientists operate both in the field and in laboratories. Forensic financial experts and forensic analysts all have a role to play in determining what ignited a structure and kept it burning.

Civil cases are even more complex because they look into the way the smoke and flames spread, how efficiently the protection and alarm equipment did (or didn't) work and identifying who is financially liable for the incident. Law enforcement agency personnel are interested in finding out if a crime has been committed.

On the flip side, some fires are started intentionally without criminal intentions. Kitchen fires, barbecues, and garage fires are all examples of situations where humans are involved but not criminals. They may simply have been negligent. If there is loss of life, then there may well be legal implications.

There is a lot of good that can come out of these investigations. If enough evidence is accumulated through different incidents, patterns can emerge that lead to changes in how buildings are constructed. It can also lead to the design of newer and better safety equipment, for reasons like prevention, containment and notification.

Good investigation can help make sure an innocent person is not sent down for arson. Arson investigators look for motive, means and opportunity. One person may look guilty on superficial investigation but detailed examination of the evidence can rule them out. This involves the work of field scientists and engineers as well as people back at the lab who examine the evidence.

Identifying precisely where the incident started is a key step in getting to the bottom of an investigation. Sometimes it's obvious, if an electrical appliance looks charred or a pile of combustible material is found at the heart of the site. Fires behave differently and leave characteristic signs. Investigators tend to look for the most seriously burned areas or places where the blaze burned the hottest.

The use of an accelerant can indicate that a fire was set deliberately. Careful chemical analysis can help reveal the arsonist, because they often leave very precise signatures. For people who love solving puzzles, have inquiring minds, strong stomachs and who won't stop until they get to the bottom of a problem, investigating the causes of fires can be a stimulating and rewarding career.




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